Patrols to combat drinking in public

Patrols to combat drinking in public

29 July 2015

POLICE and local council officials are stepping up joint patrols in Newcastle and Downpatrick in a bid to reduce the number of young people drinking alcohol in public.

The joint initiative between the PSNI and council enforcement officers was launched a number of years ago and is being supported by the licensed trade. Over the summer, there is a marked increase in the number of young people drinking and police and council staff are keen to keep a lid on the problem.

Newry, Mourne and Down Council officials say the sheer volume of alcohol being consumed over the summer results in anti-social behaviour and local people becoming more fearful of crime. 

As a result, the Policing and Community Safety Partnership developed an initiative involving officers from the PSNI’s neighbourhood policing teams and council enforcement 

officers carrying out joint patrols in Newcastle and Downpatrick at the weekend which will be increased over the coming weeks.

The PSNI and Newry, Mourne and Down Council insist the joint patrols aim to not only tackle the issue of alcohol abuse, but positively engage with young people on keeping safe while under the influence of alcohol. 

The organisations say it is widely known that alcohol impairs judgement and can result in young people becoming involved in embarrassing situations that may damage their self-respect or alter important relationships.

“Inhibitions are lowered with alcohol intake and there is potential for young people to be filmed and shared on social media doing something they would never do sober. The peril of this is that such clips remain out there forever,” said a council spokeswoman. “Even more importantly, it may also lead to a serious injury or fatality through fighting or being involved in a motor vehicle accident.”

As part of the joint patrol initiative, police officers will also be visiting local pubs and clubs to offer assistance and advice and to ensure that there is no underage drinking. 

Sergeant Jim McIlveen, a member of the PSNI’s neighbourhood policing team based in Newcastle, said police are pleased the joint patrol initiative has the support of the licensed trade, explaining pubs and off-licences are working hard to ensure alcohol is not sold to minors.

“Police officers team up with council enforcement staff mainly on Friday and Saturday nights,” he explained. “Council staff also work on their own on some occasions as responsibility for enforcing the no drinking in public legislation is the local authority’s responsibility. However, sometimes the council staff require police assistance if they are dealing with a large group of young people with a number refusing to give their names and addresses.”

Sgt McIlveen said while drinking in public is not a major issue in Newcastle, it is nevertheless one experienced in many towns across the district.

“The joint initiative between ourselves and the council is about keeping on top of things and to make sure drinking in public is an issue which does not get out of hand. The scheme has been successful since its launch,” he continued.

In Newcastle, Sgt McIlveen said areas police would visit include the Downs Road, Castle Park and Islands Park and an area close to the tennis courts at the Bryansford Road. He said those who drink in public can range from those underage to older teenagers.

“Those who drink in public places are not always rowdy, they are just sitting drinking in areas where they should not be, creating noise which some people perceive to be rowdy,” he said. “By and large, the youths do move on when they are asked to, but you will get the odd bit of grief. Sometimes when the young people see us coming they even move before we get to them.”

Sgt McIlveen added: “The joint initiative between police and enforcement officers is successful. The model works very well in Newcastle and we do have the co-operation of the licensed trade. We have also been to visit off-licence owners to ask them not to sell alcohol to those underage and to look out for those who may be attempting to buy alcohol on their behalf. It’s important we have the support of the licensed trade as part of the work we are doing.”